SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 1, 2016

 

 

BROADCOM CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

California   000-23993   33-0480482

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

5300 California Avenue, Irvine, CA 92617

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (949) 926-5000

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Introductory Note

On February 1, 2016, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “ Merger Agreement ”) by and among Avago Technologies Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore (“ Avago ”), Broadcom Corporation, a California corporation (“ Broadcom ”), Broadcom Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore (f/k/a Pavonia Limited) (“ Holdco ”), Broadcom Cayman L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a subsidiary of Holdco (f/k/a Safari Cayman L.P.) (“ Partnership ”), Avago Technologies Cayman Holdings Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Partnership (“ Intermediate Holdco ”), Avago Technologies Cayman Finance Limited, a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Intermediate Holdco (“ Finance Holdco ”), Buffalo CS Merger Sub, Inc., a California corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Finance Holdco (“ Cash/Stock Merger Sub ”), and Buffalo UT Merger Sub, Inc., a California corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Finance Holdco (“ Unit Merger Sub ”), (i) Holdco acquired Avago pursuant to a Scheme of Arrangement (the “ Avago Scheme ”) under Singapore law in accordance with Section 210 of the Companies Act (Chapter 50) of Singapore, (ii) thereafter, Cash/Stock Merger Sub merged with and into Broadcom, with Broadcom as the surviving corporation (the “ Cash/Stock Merger ”) and (iii) following the consummation of the Cash/Stock Merger, Unit Merger Sub merged with and into Broadcom, with Broadcom as the surviving corporation (the “ Unit Merger ” and together with the Cash/Stock Merger, the “ Broadcom Merger ” and together with the Avago Scheme, the “ Transactions ”). Following the consummation of the Transactions, each of Avago and Broadcom became subsidiaries of Holdco.

The description of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions in this Current Report on Form 8-K does not purport to be complete and is subject, and qualified in its entirety by reference, to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to Broadcom’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) on May 29, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2010, by and among Broadcom, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party thereto (as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2011, and as further amended by the Second Amendment, dated as of July 31, 2014, the “ 2010 Credit Agreement ”), was terminated. There were no outstanding loan borrowings under the 2010 Credit Agreement at the time of its termination.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

The disclosures under the Introductory Note are incorporated herein by reference.


Pursuant to the Broadcom Merger, each share of Broadcom common stock (each, a “ Broadcom Common Share ”) was converted into the right to receive, at the election of each holder of such Broadcom Common Share, and subject to proration in accordance with the Merger Agreement: (i) $54.50 in cash, (ii) 0.4378 ordinary shares in the capital of Holdco (“ Holdco Ordinary Shares ”), (iii) 0.4378 limited partnership units of Partnership (“ Partnership Units ”), or (iv) a combination thereof.

The issuance of Holdco Ordinary Shares and Partnership Units in connection with the Broadcom Merger was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-205938) (the “ Registration Statement ”) filed by Holdco and Partnership with the SEC and declared effective on September 25, 2015. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus of Avago and Broadcom, dated September 28, 2015, that forms a part of the Registration Statement (the “ Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus ”) contains additional information about the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including a description of the treatment of equity awards and information concerning the interests of directors, executive officers and affiliates of Avago and Broadcom in the Transactions.

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 1, 2016, Holdco issued a press release, which included an announcement regarding Broadcom’s financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the press release dated February 1, 2016, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to Holdco’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2016.

 

Item 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

Prior to the Transactions, shares of Broadcom Class A common stock were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) and listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “BRCM.” Trading on the NASDAQ in shares of Broadcom Class A common stock was halted before the opening of trading on February 1, 2016 and was suspended before the opening of trading on February 2, 2016. After the close of trading on February 1, 2016, the NASDAQ filed a Form 25 with the SEC to withdraw shares of Broadcom Class A common stock from listing and terminate the registration of Broadcom Common Shares under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. Broadcom currently intends to file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration of shares of Broadcom Class A common stock under the Exchange Act and suspend its reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

The information set forth in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.


Item 3.03. Material Modification to the Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Departure of Directors

In connection with the Transactions, on February 1, 2016, the following individuals resigned as members of Broadcom’s board of directors, effective as of the consummation of the Transactions: Robert J. Finocchio, Jr., Nancy H. Handel, Eddy W. Hartenstein, Maria M. Klawe, Ph.D., John E. Major, Scott A. McGregor, William T. Morrow, Henry Samueli, Ph.D., and Robert E. Switz.

Appointment of Directors

In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, on February 1, 2016, the following individuals became members of Broadcom’s board of directors: Anthony E. Maslowski, Ivy Pong and Hock E. Tan.

Departure of Officers

In connection with the Transactions, on February 1, 2016, the following individuals resigned as officers of Broadcom, effective as of the consummation of the Transactions: Eric K. Brandt, Arthur Chong, Michael E. Hurlston, Neil Y. Kim, Daniel A. Marotta, Scott A. McGregor, Nancy R. Phillips, Rajiv Ramaswami, Ph.D., and Cindy Fiorillo. Dr. Henry Samueli remained Chief Technical Officer of Broadcom.

Appointment of Officers

In connection with the Transactions, on February 1, 2016, the following individuals were appointed as the officers of Holdco:


Name

  

Position

Hock E. Tan    Chief Executive Officer
Anthony E. Maslowski    President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Mark Mohler    Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Henry Samueli, Ph.D.    Chief Technical Officer
Gregg Morrison    Vice President, Tax

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

New Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

In connection with the Transactions, on February 1, 2016, Broadcom amended and restated its articles of incorporation and its bylaws. The new articles of incorporation and the new bylaws of Broadcom are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Change in Fiscal Year

Following the consummation of the Transactions, Broadcom changed its fiscal year to match Holdco’s fiscal year, which ends on the Sunday closest to October 31.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

3.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Broadcom Corporation
3.2    Bylaws of Broadcom Corporation


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    BROADCOM CORPORATION,
    a California corporation
    By:  

/s/ Anthony E. Maslowski

    Name:   Anthony E. Maslowski
    Title:   President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Date: February 2, 2016      


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

3.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Broadcom Corporation
3.2    Bylaws of Broadcom Corporation

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

BROADCOM CORPORATION

ARTICLE I

The name of this corporation is Broadcom Corporation.

ARTICLE II

The purpose of this corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of California other than the banking business, the trust company business or the practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California Corporations Code.

ARTICLE III

This corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock, to be designated, respectively, “Class A Common Stock” and “Class B Common Stock.” The total number of shares of stock which this corporation is authorized to issue is twenty-eight billion (28,000,000,000) shares. Twenty-four billion (24,000,000,000) shares shall be Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Four billion (4,000,000,000) shares shall be Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share. The board of directors of this corporation may determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the holders of each class of stock authorized herein.

ARTICLE IV

The liability of the directors of this corporation for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under California law.

ARTICLE V

This corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of agents (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) through bylaw provisions, agreements with the agents, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise in excess of the indemnification otherwise permitted by Section 317 of the California Corporations Code, subject only to applicable limits set forth in Section 204 of the California Corporations Code with respect to actions for breach of duty to the corporation and its shareholders.

Dated: February 1, 2016

 

/s/ Patricia H. McCall

Patricia H. McCall
Vice President and Secretary

Exhibit 3.2

BYLAWS

OF

BROADCOM CORPORATION

(a California corporation)

Adopted as of February 1, 2016


T ABLE OF C ONTENTS

 

         Page  

A RTICLE I - O FFICES

     1   
 

Section 1. Principal Office

     1   
 

Section 2. Other Offices

     1   

A RTICLE II - C ORPORATE S EAL

     1   
 

Section 3. Corporate Seal.

     1   

A RTICLE III - S HAREHOLDERS ’ M EETINGS AND V OTING R IGHTS

     1   
 

Section 4. Place of Meetings

     1   
 

Section 5. Annual Meeting

     1   
 

Section 6. Postponement of Annual Meeting

     1   
 

Section 7. Special Meetings

     2   
 

Section 8. Notice of Meetings

     2   
 

Section 9. Manner of Giving Notice

     3   
 

Section 10. Quorum and Transaction of Business

     4   
 

Section 11. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings

     4   
 

Section 12. Waiver of Notice, Consent to Meeting or Approval of Minutes

     4   
 

Section 13. Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting

     5   
 

Section 14. Voting

     6   
 

Section 15. Persons Entitled to Vote or Consent

     6   
 

Section 16. Proxies

     7   
 

Section 17. Inspectors of Election

     7   

A RTICLE IV - B OARD OF D IRECTORS

     8   
 

Section 18. Powers

     8   
 

Section 19. Number of Directors

     8   
 

Section 20. Election Of Directors, Term, Qualifications

     8   
 

Section 21. Resignations

     9   
 

Section 22. Removal

     9   
 

Section 23. Vacancies

     9   
 

Section 24. Regular Meetings

     9   
 

Section 25. Participation by Telephone

     10   
 

Section 26. Special Meetings

     10   
 

Section 27. Notice of Meetings

     10   
 

Section 28. Place of Meetings

     10   
 

Section 29. Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting

     10   
 

Section 30. Quorum and Transaction of Business

     10   

 

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         Page  
  Section 31. Adjournment      11   
  Section 32. Organization      11   
  Section 33. Compensation      11   
  Section 34. Committees      11   
A RTICLE V - O FFICERS      12   
  Section 35. Officers      12   
  Section 36. Appointment      12   
  Section 37. Inability to Act      12   
  Section 38. Resignations      12   
  Section 39. Removal      13   
  Section 40. Vacancies      13   
  Section 41. Chairman of the Board      13   
  Section 42. Chief Executive Officer      13   
  Section 43. President      13   
  Section 44. Vice Presidents      14   
  Section 45. Secretary      14   
  Section 46. Chief Financial Officer      14   
  Section 47. Compensation      15   
A RTICLE VI - C ONTRACTS , L OANS , B ANK A CCOUNTS , C HECKS AND D RAFTS      15   
  Section 48. Execution of Contracts and Other Instruments      15   
  Section 49. Loans      16   
  Section 50. Bank Accounts      16   
  Section 51. Checks, Drafts, Etc      16   
A RTICLE VII - C ERTIFICATES FOR S HARES AND T HEIR T RANSFER      16   
  Section 52. Certificate for Shares      16   
  Section 53. Transfer on the Books      17   
  Section 54. Lost, Destroyed and Stolen Certificates      17   
  Section 55. Issuance, Transfer and Registration of Shares      17   
A RTICLE VIII - I NSPECTION OF C ORPORATE R ECORDS      18   
  Section 56. Inspection by Directors      18   
  Section 57. Inspection by Shareholders      18   
  Section 58. Written Form      19   
A RTICLE IX - M ISCELLANEOUS      19   
  Section 59. Fiscal Year      19   
  Section 60. Annual Report      19   
  Section 61. Record Date      20   
  Section 62. Bylaw Amendments      20   
  Section 63. Construction and Definition      20   

 

ii


         Page  
A RTICLE X - I NDEMNIFICATION      21   
  Section 64. Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees And Other Agents      21   

 

iii


BYLAWS

OF

BROADCOM CORPORATION

(a California Corporation)

A RTICLE I - O FFICES

Section 1. Principal Office. The principal executive office of the corporation shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize. If the principal executive office is located outside this state, and the corporation has one or more business offices in this state, the Board of Directors shall fix and designate a principal business office in the State of California.

Section 2. Other Offices. Additional offices of the corporation shall be located at such place or places, within or outside the State of California, as the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize.

A RTICLE II - C ORPORATE S EAL

Section 3. Corporate Seal. If the Board of Directors adopts a corporate seal such seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the state and date of its incorporation. If and when a seal is adopted by the Board of Directors, such seal may be engraved, lithographed, printed, stamped, impressed upon, or affixed to any contract, conveyance, certificate for shares, or other instrument executed by the corporation.

A RTICLE III - S HAREHOLDERS ’ M EETINGS AND V OTING R IGHTS

Section 4. Place of Meetings. Meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation, or at any other place, within or outside the State of California, which may be fixed either by the Board of Directors or by the written consent of all persons entitled to vote at such meeting, given either before or after the meeting and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation.

Section 5. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the corporation shall be held on any date and time which may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors. At such annual meeting, directors shall be elected and any other business may be transacted which may properly come before the meeting.

Section 6. Postponement of Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors and the President shall each have authority to hold at an earlier date and/or time, or to postpone to a later date and/or time, the annual meeting of shareholders.


Section 7. Special Meetings.

(a) Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, or the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than ten percent (10%) of the votes at the meeting.

(b) Upon written request to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, Chief Executive Officer, any vice president or the Secretary of the corporation by any person or persons (other than the Board of Directors) entitled to call a special meeting of the shareholders, such officer forthwith shall cause notice to be given to the shareholders entitled to vote, that a meeting will be held at a time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, such time to be not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days after receipt of such request. If such notice is not given within twenty (20) days after receipt of such request, the person or persons calling the meeting may give notice thereof in the manner provided by law or in these bylaws. Nothing contained in this Section 7 shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time or date when a meeting of shareholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

Section 8. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise may be required by law and subject to subsection 7(b) above, written notice of each meeting of shareholders shall be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at that meeting (see Section 15 below), by the Secretary, assistant secretary or other person charged with that duty, not less than ten (10) (or, if sent by third class mail, thirty (30)) nor more than sixty (60) days before such meeting.

Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall state the date, place and hour of the meeting and,

(a) in the case of a special meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted, and no other business may be transacted at such meeting;

(b) in the case of an annual meeting, the general nature of matters which the Board of Directors, at the time the notice is given, intends to present for action by the shareholders;

(c) in the case of any meeting at which directors are to be elected, the names of the nominees intended at the time of the notice to be presented by management for election; and

(d) in the case of any meeting, if action is to be taken on any of the following proposals, the general nature of such proposal:

(1) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Section 310 (relating to certain transactions in which a director has a direct or indirect financial interest);

 

2


(2) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Section 902 (relating to amending the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation);

(3) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Sections 181 and 1201 (relating to reorganization);

(4) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Section 1900 (winding up and dissolution); or

(5) a proposal to approve a plan of distribution within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Section 2007 (relating to certain plans providing for distribution not in accordance with the liquidation rights of preferred shares, if any).

At a special meeting, notice of which has been given in accordance with this Section, action may not be taken with respect to business, the general nature of which has not been stated in such notice. At an annual meeting, action may be taken with respect to business stated in the notice of such meeting, given in accordance with this Section, and, subject to subsection 8(d) above, with respect to any other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Section 9. Manner of Giving Notice. Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall be given either personally or by first-class mail, or, if the corporation has outstanding shares held of record by 500 or more persons (determined as provided in California Corporations Code Section 605) on the record date for such meeting, third-class mail, or telegraphic or other written communication, addressed to the shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the shareholder to the corporation for the purpose of notice. If no such address appears on the corporation’s books or is given, notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that shareholder by first-class mail or telegraphic or other written communication to the corporation’s principal executive office, or if published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where that office is located. Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by telegram or other means of written communication.

If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation is returned to the corporation by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the shareholder at that address, all future notices shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if these shall be available to the shareholder on written demand by the shareholder at the principal executive office of the corporation for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice.

An affidavit of mailing of any notice or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9, executed by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any transfer agent, shall be prima facie evidence of the giving of the notice.

 

3


Section 10. Quorum and Transaction of Business.

(a) At any meeting of the shareholders, a majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on any matter shall be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a greater number or voting by classes is required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, and except as provided in subsection (b) below.

(b) The shareholders present at a duly called or held meeting of the shareholders at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum, provided that any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by at least a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum.

(c) In the absence of a quorum, no business other than adjournment may be transacted, except as described in subsection (b) above.

Section 11. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings. Any meeting of shareholders may be adjourned from time to time, whether or not a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of a majority of shares represented at such meeting either in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting.

In the event any meeting is adjourned, it shall not be necessary to give notice of the time and place of such adjourned meeting pursuant to Sections 8 and 9 of these bylaws; provided that if any of the following three events occur, such notice must be given:

(1) announcement of the adjourned meeting’s time and place is not made at the original meeting which it continues; or

(2) such meeting is adjourned for more than forty-five (45) days from the date set for the original meeting; or

(3) a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting.

At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

Section 12. Waiver of Notice, Consent to Meeting or Approval of Minutes.

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this Section, the transactions of any meeting of shareholders, however called and noticed, and wherever held, shall be as valid as though made at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the persons entitled to vote but not present in person or by proxy signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof.

 

4


(b) A waiver of notice, consent to the holding of a meeting or approval of the minutes thereof need not specify the business to be transacted or transacted at nor the purpose of the meeting; provided that in the case of proposals described in subsection (d) of Section 8 of these bylaws, the general nature of such proposals must be described in any such waiver of notice and such proposals can only be approved by waiver of notice, not by consent to holding of the meeting or approval of the minutes.

(c) All waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

(d) A person’s attendance at a meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of and presence at such meeting, except when such person objects at the beginning of the meeting to transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters which are required by law or these bylaws to be in such notice (including those matters described in subsection (d) of Section 8 of these bylaws), but are not so included if such person expressly objects to consideration of such matter or matters at any time during the meeting.

Section 13. Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Any action which may be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if written consents setting forth the action so taken are signed by the holders of the outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

Directors may not be elected by written consent except by unanimous written consent of all shares entitled to vote for the election of directors; provided that any vacancy on the Board of Directors (other than a vacancy created by removal) which has not been filled by the board of directors may be filled by the written consent of a majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote for the election of directors.

Any written consent may be revoked pursuant to California Corporations Code Section 603(c) prior to the time that written consents of the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the Secretary. Such revocation must be in writing and will be effective upon its receipt by the Secretary.

If the consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have not been solicited in writing, the Secretary shall give prompt notice of any corporate action approved by the shareholders without a meeting to those shareholders entitled to vote on such matters who have not consented thereto in writing. This notice shall be given in the manner specified in Section 9 of these bylaws. In the case of approval of (i) a transaction within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Section 310 (relating to certain transactions in which a director has an interest), (ii) a transaction within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Section 317 (relating to indemnification of agents of the corporation), (iii) a transaction within the provisions of California Corporations Code, Sections 181 and 1201 (relating to reorganization), and (iv) a plan of distribution within the provisions of

 

5


California Corporations Code, Section 2007 (relating to certain plans providing for distribution not in accordance with the liquidation rights of preferred shares, if any), the notice shall be given at least ten (10) days before the consummation of any action authorized by that approval.

Section 14. Voting. The shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 15 of these bylaws, subject to the provisions of Sections 702 through 704 of the California Corporations Code (relating to voting shares held by a fiduciary, in the name of a corporation, or in joint ownership). Voting at any meeting of shareholders need not be by ballot; provided, however, that elections for directors must be by ballot if balloting is demanded by a shareholder at the meeting and before the voting begins.

Every person entitled to vote at an election for directors may cumulate the votes to which such person is entitled, i.e., such person may cast a total number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which such person’s shares are entitled, and may cast said total number of votes for one or more candidates in such proportions as such person thinks fit; provided, however, no shareholder shall be entitled to so cumulate such shareholder’s votes unless the candidates for which such shareholder is voting have been placed in nomination prior to the voting and a shareholder has given notice at the meeting, prior to the vote, of an intention to cumulate votes. In any election of directors, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, are elected.

Except as may be otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or by law, and subject to the foregoing provisions regarding the cumulation of votes, each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share held.

Any shareholder may vote part of such shareholder’s shares in favor of a proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or vote them against the proposal, other than elections to office, but, if the shareholder fails to specify the number of shares such shareholder is voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the shareholder’s approving vote is with respect to all shares such shareholder is entitled to vote.

No shareholder approval, other than unanimous approval of those entitled to vote, will be valid as to proposals described in subsection 8(d) of these bylaws unless the general nature of such business was stated in the notice of meeting or in any written waiver of notice.

Section 15. Persons Entitled to Vote or Consent. The Board of Directors may fix a record date pursuant to Section 60 of these bylaws to determine which shareholders are entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting or consent to corporate actions, as provided in Sections 13 and 14 of these bylaws. Only persons in whose name shares otherwise entitled to vote stand on the stock records of the corporation on such date shall be entitled to vote or consent.

If no record date is fixed:

(a) The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held;

 

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(b) The record date for determining shareholders entitled to give consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent is given; or

(c) The record date for determining shareholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto, or the sixtieth (60th) day prior to the date of such other action, whichever is later.

A determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned for more than forty-five (45) days from the date set for the original meeting.

Shares of the corporation held by its subsidiary or subsidiaries (as defined in California Corporations Code, Section 189(b)) are not entitled to vote in any matter.

Section 16. Proxies. Every person entitled to vote or execute consents may do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized to act by a written proxy executed by the person or such person’s duly authorized agent and filed with the Secretary of the corporation; provided that no such proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of its execution unless otherwise provided in the proxy. The manner of execution, suspension, revocation, exercise and effect of proxies is governed by law.

Section 17. Inspectors of Election. Before any meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any persons, other than nominees for office, to act as inspectors of election at the meeting or its adjournment. If no inspectors of election are so appointed, the chairman of the meeting may, and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). If inspectors are appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies, the majority of shares represented in person or proxy shall determine whether one (1) or three (3) inspectors are to be appointed. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the chairman of the meeting may, and upon the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy shall, appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

These inspectors shall:

(a) Determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies;

(b) Receive votes, ballots, or consents;

 

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(c) Hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

(d) Count and tabulate all votes or consents;

(e) Determine when the polls shall close;

(f) Determine the result; and

(g) Do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.

A RTICLE IV - B OARD OF D IRECTORS

Section 18. Powers. Subject to the provisions of law or any limitations in the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, as to action required to be approved by the shareholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised, by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate the management of the day-to-day operation of the business of the corporation to a management company or other person, provided that the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised under the ultimate direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 19. Number of Directors. The authorized number of directors of the corporation shall be no less than two (2) and no more than three (3). The exact number of directors shall be set from time to time (a) by approval of the Board of Directors, or (b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum) or by the written consent of shareholders pursuant to Section 13 hereinabove.

Any amendment of these bylaws changing the maximum or minimum number of directors may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.

No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall remove any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

Section 20. Election of Directors, Term, Qualifications. The directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders to hold office until the next annual meeting. Each director, including a director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy, shall hold office either until the expiration of the term for which elected or appointed and until a successor has been elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be shareholders of the corporation.

 

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Section 21. Resignations. Any director of the corporation may resign effective upon giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the corporation, unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. If the resignation specifies effectiveness at a future time, a successor may be elected pursuant to Section 23 of these bylaws to take office on the date that the resignation becomes effective.

Section 22. Removal. The Board of Directors may declare vacant the office of a director who has been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or who has been convicted of a felony.

The entire Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such removal; provided, however, that unless the entire Board is removed, no individual director may be removed when the votes cast against such director’s removal, or not consenting in writing to such removal, would be sufficient to elect that director if voted cumulatively at an election at which the same total number of votes cast were cast (or, if such action is taken by written consent, all shares entitled to vote were voted) and the entire number of directors authorized at the time of such director’s most recent election were then being elected.

Section 23. Vacancies. A vacancy or vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist in case of the death, resignation or removal of any director, or upon increase in the authorized number of directors or if shareholders fail to elect the full authorized number of directors at an annual meeting of shareholders or if, for whatever reason, there are fewer directors on the Board of Directors, than the full number authorized. Such vacancy or vacancies, other than a vacancy created by the removal of a director, may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A vacancy created by the removal of a director may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum) or by the written consent of shareholders pursuant to Section 13 hereinabove. The shareholders may elect a director at any time to fill any vacancy not filled by the directors. Any such election by written consent, other than to fill a vacancy created by removal, requires the consent of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. Any such election by written consent to fill a vacancy created by removal requires the consent of all of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.

If, after the filling of any vacancy by the directors, the directors then in office who have been elected by the shareholders constitute less than a majority of the directors then in office, any holder or holders of an aggregate of five percent (5%) or more of the shares outstanding at that time and having the right to vote for such directors may call a special meeting of shareholders to be held to elect the entire Board of Directors. The term of office of any director shall terminate upon such election of a successor.

Section 24. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times, places and dates as fixed in these bylaws or by the Board of Directors; provided,

 

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however, that if the date for such a meeting falls on a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held at the same time on the next succeeding full business day. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors held pursuant to this Section 24 may be held without notice.

Section 25. Participation by Telephone. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting through use of conference telephone or similar communications equipment, so long as all members participating in such meeting can hear one another. Such participation constitutes presence in person at such meeting.

Section 26. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President or the Chief Executive Officer or any vice president or the Secretary of the corporation or any one (1) director.

Section 27. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the date, time and place of all meetings of the Board of Directors, other than regular meetings held pursuant to Section 24 above shall be delivered personally, orally or in writing, or by telephone or telegraph to each director, at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting, or sent in writing to each director by first-class mail, charges prepaid, at least four (4) days before the meeting. Such notice may be given by the Secretary of the corporation or by the person or persons who called a meeting. Such notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any director who signs a waiver of notice of such meeting, or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof, either before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement such director’s lack of notice. All such waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

Section 28. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place within or without the state which has been designated in the notice of the meeting or, if not stated in the notice or there is no notice, designated in the bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 29. Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of such directors.

Section 30. Quorum and Transaction of Business. A majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the authorized number of directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the law, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws specifically require a greater number. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the number of directors constituting a quorum for such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting, as provided in Section 31 of these bylaws.

 

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Section 31. Adjournment. Any meeting of the Board of Directors, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned to another time and place by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present. If the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, notice of such adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.

Section 32. Organization. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at every meeting of the Board of Directors, if present. If there is no Chairman of the Board or if the Chairman is not present, a Chairman chosen by a majority of the directors present shall act as chairman. The Secretary of the corporation or, in the absence of the Secretary, any person appointed by the Chairman shall act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 33. Compensation. Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services, and such reimbursement for expenses, as may be fixed or determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 34. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate one or more committees, each consisting of two (2) or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, by a vote of the majority of authorized directors, may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, to replace any absent member at any meeting of such committee. Any such committee shall have authority to act in the manner and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, and may have all the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, except with respect to:

(a) the approval of any action for which shareholders’ approval or approval of the outstanding shares also is required by the California Corporations Code;

(b) the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors or any of its committees;

(c) the fixing of compensation of directors for serving on the Board of Directors or any of its committees;

(d) the adoption, amendment or repeal of these bylaws;

(e) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;

(f) a distribution to shareholders, except at a rate or in a periodic amount or within a price range determined by the Board of Directors; or

 

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(g) the appointment of other committees of the Board of Directors or the members thereof.

Any committee may from time to time provide by resolution for regular meetings at specified times and places. If the date of such a meeting falls on a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held at the same time on the next succeeding full business day. No notice of such a meeting need be given. Such regular meetings need not be held if the committee shall so determine at any time before or after the time when such meeting would otherwise have taken place. Special meetings may be called at any time in the same manner and by the same persons as stated in Sections 26 and 27 of these bylaws for meetings of the Board of Directors. The provisions of Sections 25, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 of these bylaws shall apply to committees, committee members and committee meetings as if the words “committee” and “committee member” were substituted for the word “Board of Directors”, and “director”, respectively, throughout such sections.

A RTICLE V - O FFICERS

Section 35. Officers. The corporation shall have a Chairman of the Board or a President or both, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers with such titles and duties as the Board of Directors may determine. The corporation may have a Chief Executive Officer, as determined and appointed by the Board of Directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

Section 36. Appointment. All officers shall be chosen and appointed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, the Board of Directors may empower the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation to appoint such officers, other than Chairman of the Board, President, Secretary or Chief Financial Officer, as the business of the corporation may require. All officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under a contract of employment.

Section 37. Inability to Act. In the case of absence or inability to act of any officer of the corporation or of any person authorized by these bylaws to act in such officer’s place, the Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer, or any director or other person whom it may select, for such period of time as the Board of Directors deems necessary.

Section 38. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which such officer is a party. Such resignation shall be effective upon its receipt by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or the Board of Directors, unless a different time is specified in the notice for effectiveness of such resignation. The acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise specified in such notice.

 

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Section 39. Removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, but subject to the rights, if any, of such officer under any contract of employment, by the Board of Directors or by any committee to whom such power of removal has been duly delegated, or, with regard to any officer who has been appointed by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 36 above, by the Chief Executive Officer or any other officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors.

Section 40. Vacancies. A vacancy occurring in any office for any cause may be filled by the Board of Directors, in the manner prescribed by this Article of the bylaws for initial appointment to such office.

Section 41. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors or prescribed by these bylaws. If no President or Chief Executive Officer is appointed, the Chairman of the Board is the general manager and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, and shall exercise all powers of the President described in Section 43 below.

Section 42. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if there be such an officer, may, as determined by the Board of Directors, exercise all powers of the President described in Section 43 below.

Section 43. President. Subject to such powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, if no Chief Executive Officer is appointed, the President shall be the general manager and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall have general supervision, direction, and control over the business and affairs of the corporation, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The President may sign and execute, in the name of the corporation, any instrument authorized by the Board of Directors, except when the signing and execution thereof shall have been expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these bylaws to some other officer or agent of the corporation. The President shall have all the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the president of a corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or these bylaws. The President shall have discretion to prescribe the duties of other officers and employees of the corporation in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws and the directions of the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 44. Vice Presidents. In the absence or disability of the President, in the event of a vacancy in the office of President, or in the event such officer refuses to act, the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions on, the President. If at any such time the corporation has more than one vice president, the duties and powers of the President shall pass to each vice president in order of such vice president’s rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if the vice presidents are not so ranked, to the vice president designated by the Board of Directors. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed for them from time to time by the Board of Directors or pursuant to Sections 35 and 36 of these bylaws or otherwise pursuant to these bylaws.

Section 45. Secretary. The Secretary shall:

(a) Keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the corporation’s shareholders, Board of Directors, and committees of the Board of Directors, if any. Such minutes shall be kept in written form.

(b) Keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the corporation, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, if any, a record of the corporation’s shareholders, showing the names and addresses of all shareholders, and the number and classes of shares held by each. Such records shall be kept in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form.

(c) Keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the corporation, or if the principal executive office is not in California, at its principal business office in California, an original or copy of these bylaws, as amended.

(d) Give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of shareholders, directors and committees of the Board of Directors, as required by law or by these bylaws.

(e) Keep the seal of the corporation, if any, in safe custody.

(f) Exercise such powers and perform such duties as are usually vested in the office of secretary of a corporation, and exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or these bylaws.

If any assistant secretaries are appointed, the assistant secretary, or one of the assistant secretaries in the order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if they are not so ranked, the assistant secretary designated by the Board of Directors, in the absence or disability of the Secretary or in the event of such officer’s refusal to act or if a vacancy exists in the office of Secretary, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and discharge such duties as may be assigned from time to time pursuant to these bylaws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 46. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall:

 

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(a) Be responsible for all functions and duties of the treasurer of the corporation.

(b) Keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of account for the corporation.

(c) Receive or be responsible for receipt of all monies due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever; have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all monies and other valuables of the corporation and be responsible for deposit of all such monies in the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors or a duly appointed and authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

(d) Disburse or be responsible for the disbursement of the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors or a duly appointed and authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

(e) Render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors a statement of the financial condition of the corporation if called upon to do so.

(f) Exercise such powers and perform such duties as are usually vested in the office of chief financial officer of a corporation, and exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these bylaws.

If any assistant financial officer is appointed, the assistant financial officer, or one of the assistant financial officers, if there are more than one, in the order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if they are not so ranked, the assistant financial officer designated by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer or in the event of such officer’s refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer, and shall have such powers and discharge such duties as may be assigned from time to time pursuant to these bylaws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 47. Compensation. The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that such officer is also a director of the corporation.

A RTICLE VI - C ONTRACTS , L OANS , B ANK A CCOUNTS , C HECKS AND D RAFTS

Section 48. Execution of Contracts and Other Instruments. Except as these bylaws may otherwise provide, the Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authorization may be general or confined to specific instances. Except as so authorized or otherwise expressly provided in these bylaws, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or in any amount.

 

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Section 49. Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the corporation and no negotiable paper shall be issued in its name, unless and except as authorized by the Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee. When so authorized by the Board of Directors or such committee, any officer or agent of the corporation may effect loans and advances at any time for the corporation from any bank, trust company, or other institution, or from any firm, corporation or individual, and for such loans and advances may make, execute and deliver promissory notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the corporation and, when authorized as aforesaid, may mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or transfer any and all stocks, securities and other property, real or personal, at any time held by the corporation, and to that end endorse, assign and deliver the same as security for the payment of any and all loans, advances, indebtedness, and liabilities of the corporation. Such authorization may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 50. Bank Accounts. The Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee from time to time may authorize the opening and keeping of general and/or special bank accounts with such banks, trust companies, or other depositaries as may be selected by the Board of Directors, its duly appointed and authorized committee or by any officer or officers, agent or agents, of the corporation to whom such power may be delegated from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee may make such rules and regulations with respect to said bank accounts, not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws, as are deemed advisable.

Section 51. Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes, acceptances or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents, of the corporation, and in such manner, as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee. Endorsements for deposit to the credit of the corporation in any of its duly authorized depositaries may be made, without counter-signature, by the President or any vice president or the Chief Financial Officer or any assistant financial officer or by any other officer or agent of the corporation to whom the Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee, by resolution, shall have delegated such power or by hand-stamped impression in the name of the corporation.

A RTICLE VII - C ERTIFICATES FOR S HARES AND T HEIR T RANSFER

Section 52. Certificate for Shares. Every holder of shares in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed in the name of the corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board or the President or a Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer or an assistant financial officer or by the Secretary or an assistant secretary, certifying the number of shares and the class or series of shares owned by the shareholder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

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In the event that the corporation shall issue any shares as only partly paid, the certificate issued to represent such partly paid shares shall have stated thereon the total consideration to be paid for such shares and the amount paid thereon.

Section 53. Transfer on the Books. Upon surrender to the Secretary or transfer agent (if any) of the corporation of a certificate for shares of the corporation duly endorsed, with reasonable assurance that the endorsement is genuine and effective, or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer and upon compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and if the corporation has no statutory duty to inquire into adverse claims or has discharged any such duty and if any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes has been complied with, it shall be the duty of the corporation, by its Secretary or transfer agent, to cancel the old certificate, to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto and to record the transaction on the books of the corporation.

Section 54. Lost, Destroyed and Stolen Certificates. The holder of any certificate for shares of the corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen shall notify the corporation by making a written affidavit or affirmation of such fact. Upon receipt of said affidavit or affirmation the Board of Directors, or its duly appointed and authorized committee or any officer or officers authorized by the Board so to do, may order the issuance of a new certificate for shares in the place of any certificate previously issued by the corporation and which is alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen. However, the Board of Directors or such authorized committee, officer or officers may require the owner of the allegedly lost, destroyed or stolen certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the corporation a bond or other adequate security sufficient to indemnify the corporation and its transfer agent and/or registrar, if any, against any claim that may be made against it or them on account of such allegedly lost, destroyed or stolen certificate or the replacement thereof. Said bond or other security shall be in such amount, on such terms and conditions and, in the case of a bond, with such surety or sureties as may be acceptable to the Board of Directors or to its duly appointed and authorized committee or any officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to determine the sufficiency thereof. The requirement of a bond or other security may be waived in particular cases at the discretion of the Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee or any officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors so to do.

Section 55. Issuance, Transfer and Registration of Shares. The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law or with these bylaws, as it may deem advisable concerning the issuance, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of the capital stock of the corporation. The Board of Directors may appoint a transfer agent or registrar of transfers, or both, and may require all certificates for shares of the corporation to bear the signature of either or both.

 

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A RTICLE VIII - I NSPECTION OF C ORPORATE R ECORDS

Section 56. Inspection by Directors. Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect and copy all books, records, and documents of every kind of the corporation and any of its subsidiaries and to inspect the physical properties of the corporation and any of its subsidiaries. Such inspection may be made by the director in person or by agent or attorney, and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts.

Section 57. Inspection by Shareholders.

(a) Inspection of Corporate Records .

(1) A shareholder or shareholders holding at least five percent (5%) in the aggregate of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation or who hold at least one percent of such voting shares and have filed a Schedule 14B with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the election of directors of the corporation shall have an absolute right to do either or both of the following:

(i) Inspect and copy the record of shareholders’ names and addresses and shareholdings during usual business hours upon five (5) business days’ prior written demand upon the corporation; or

(ii) Obtain from the transfer agent, if any, for the corporation, upon five business days’ prior written demand and upon the tender of its usual charges for such a list (the amount of which charges shall be stated to the shareholder by the transfer agent upon request), a list of the shareholders’ names and addresses who are entitled to vote for the election of directors and their shareholdings, as of the most recent record date for which it has been compiled or as of a date specified by the shareholder subsequent to the date of demand.

(2) The record of shareholders shall also be open to inspection and copying by any shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate at any time during usual business hours upon written demand on the corporation, for a purpose reasonably related to such holder’s interest as a shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate.

(3) The accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors and of any committees of the Board of Directors of the corporation and of each of its subsidiaries shall be open to inspection, copying and making extracts upon written demand on the corporation of any shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate at any reasonable time during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to such holder’s interests as a shareholder or as a holder of such voting trust certificate.

(4) Any inspection, copying, and making of extracts under this subsection (a) may be done in person or by agent or attorney.

 

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(b) Inspection of Bylaws . The original or a copy of these bylaws shall be kept as provided in Section 45 of these bylaws and shall be open to inspection by the shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours. If the principal executive office of the corporation is not in California, and the corporation has no principal business office in the state of California, a current copy of these bylaws shall be furnished to any shareholder upon written request.

Section 58. Written Form. If any record subject to inspection pursuant to Section 57 above is not maintained in written form, a request for inspection is not complied with unless and until the corporation at its expense makes such record available in written form.

A RTICLE IX - M ISCELLANEOUS

Section 59. Fiscal Year. Unless otherwise fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the corporation shall end on the Sunday closest to October 31st.

Section 60. Annual Report.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 60(b) below, the Board of Directors shall cause an annual report to be sent to each shareholder of the corporation in the manner provided in Section 9 of these bylaws not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of the corporation’s fiscal year. Such report shall include a balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year and an income statement and statement of changes in financial position for such fiscal year, accompanied by any report thereon of independent accountants or, if there is no such report, the certificate of an authorized officer of the corporation that such statements were prepared without audit from the books and records of the corporation. When there are more than 100 shareholders of record of the corporation’s shares, as determined by Section 605 of the California Corporations Code, additional information as required by Section 1501(b) of the California Corporations Code shall also be contained in such report, provided that if the corporation has a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that Act shall take precedence. Such report shall be sent to shareholders at least fifteen (15) (or, if sent by third-class mail, thirty-five (35)) days prior to the next annual meeting of shareholders after the end of the fiscal year to which it relates.

(b) If and so long as there are fewer than 100 holders of record of the corporation’s shares, the requirement of sending of an annual report to the shareholders of the corporation is hereby expressly waived.

 

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Section 61. Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix a time in the future as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of shares or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other lawful action. The record date so fixed shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action or event for the purpose of which it is fixed. If no record date is fixed, the provisions of Section 15 of these bylaws shall apply with respect to notice of meetings, votes, and consents and the record date for determining shareholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolutions relating thereto, or the sixtieth (60th) day prior to the date of such other action or event, whichever is later.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be entitled to notice and to vote or to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, by agreement or by law.

Section 62. Bylaw Amendments. Except as otherwise provided by law, Section 19 or any other Section of these bylaws, these bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, including, if applicable, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class or series entitled by law or the Articles of Incorporation to vote as a class or series on the amendment or repeal or adoption of any bylaw or bylaws; provided, however, after issuance of shares, a bylaw specifying or changing a fixed number of directors or the maximum or minimum number or changing from a fixed to a variable board or vice versa may only be adopted by approval of the outstanding shares as provided herein.

Section 63. Construction and Definition. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions contained in the California Corporations Code shall govern the construction of these bylaws.

Without limiting the foregoing, “shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.

 

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A RTICLE X - I NDEMNIFICATION

Section 64. Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents.

(a) Directors and Executive Officers . The corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the California Corporations Code, indemnify each of its directors and officers against expenses (as defined in Section 317(a) of the California Corporations Code), judgment, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding (as defined in Section 317(a) of the California Corporations Code), arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation. For purposes of this bylaw, a “director” or “officer” of the corporation includes any person (i) who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or entity, or (iii) who was a director or elected officer of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.

(b) Other Officers, Employees and Other Agents . The corporation shall have the power, to the extent and in the manner permitted by the California Corporations Code, to indemnify each of its employees and agents (other than directors and elected officers) against expenses (as defined in Section 317(a) of the California Corporations Code), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding (as defined in Section 317(a) of the California Corporations Code), arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee or agent of the corporation. For purposes of this bylaw, an “employee” or “agent” of the corporation (other than a director or officer) includes any person (i) who is or was an employee or agent of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as an employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or entity or (ii) who was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.

(c) Payment of Expenses in Advance . Expenses (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) and attorneys’ fees incurred in defending any civil or criminal action or proceeding (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) for which indemnification is required pursuant to Section 64(a), or if otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors, shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified party to repay such an amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this bylaw. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation shall not be required to advance such expenses to an agent (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) who is a party to an action, suit or proceeding brought by the corporation and approved by a majority of the Board of Directors that alleges willful misappropriation of corporate assets by such agent, wrongful disclosure of confidential information, or any other willful and deliberate breach in bad faith of such agent’s duty to the corporation or its shareholders.

 

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(d) Indemnity Not Exclusive . The indemnification provided by this bylaw shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, to the extent such additional rights to indemnification are authorized by the Articles of Incorporation. The rights to indemnity hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of the person.

(e) Insurance Indemnification . The corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person in such capacity or arising out of that person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify that person against such liability under the provisions of this bylaw.

(f) Conflicts . No indemnification or advance shall be made under this bylaw, except where such indemnification or advance is mandated by law or the order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, in any circumstance where it appears:

(1) That it would be inconsistent with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, a resolution of the shareholders or an agreement in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of the action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or

(2) That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement.

(g) Right to Bring Suit . The rights to indemnification in this section shall be contract rights. If a claim under this bylaw is not paid in full by the corporation within 90 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation (either because the claim is denied or because no determination is made), the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The corporation shall be entitled to raise as a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the California Corporations Code for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the claim. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is permissible in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct, if any, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its shareholders) that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to such action or create a presumption for the purposes of such action that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

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(h) Indemnification Agreements . The Board of Directors is authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or any person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or entity, including employee benefit plans, or any person who was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determines and to the extent permitted by applicable law, greater than, those provided for in this bylaw.

(i) Amendment, Repeal or Modification . Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this bylaw shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director, employee, officer or agent of the corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

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